A
The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read beneath the branches of an old tree, with good reason to frown, for the world was intended to drag me down. At this time, a boy approached me. He stood right before me, and said with great excitement, “Look what I found!”
In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, with its petals (花瓣) all worn. Wanting him to take his flower and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then turned to the other side.
But instead of leaving, he sat next to my side and placed the flower to his nose and declared, “It really smells pretty and it’s beautiful, too. That’s why I picked it. Here, it’s for you.”
The flower before me was dying or dead. But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave. So I reached for the flower, and replied, “Just what I need.”
But instead of placing the flower in my hand, he held it in mid-air. It was then that I noticed that the boy was blind.
I heard my voice quiver (轻微颤抖), and at the same time my tears shone like the sun. As I thanked him for picking the very best one, he smiled and said, “You’re welcome.” And then he ran off to play, unaware of the impact he’d had on me.
I sat there and wondered how he managed to see a self-pitying woman beneath an old tree. Perhaps from his heart, he’d been blessed with true sight.
Through the eyes of the blind boy, I could see the problem was not with the world; the problem was me. And for all of those times I had been blind. From now on I vowed to see beauty and appreciate every second that’s mine. Then I held the flower up to my nose and breathed its fragrance and smiled as that young boy.
21. When she sat down to read on the bench, the author _______.
A. felt relaxed and peaceful
B. wanted to have a friend keeping her company
C. felt upset and unhappy with her life
D. felt proud to have overcome the difficulties in life
22. The author decide to take the flower at first because___
A. she was really moved by the boy.
B. she didn’t want to hurt the young boy.
C. she didn’t like being bothered by the boy any more.
D. she thought the flower was really beautiful.
23. Which of the following can best describe the boy?
A. Independent and active. B. Kind and optimistic.
C. Handsome and intelligent. D. Warmhearted and sensitive.
